- disability

[Guest guest]

I am also trying to get on disability. My doctor cut my work hours

to 4 hrs a day last July after a very bad flare. I applied for

partial disability at that time. I have been completely off work for

the last month recouperating from knee surgery. I finally got an

appointment with a Rheumy in my own town and don't have to drive 100

miles to see one. I have had a lot of swelling in my knee since the

surgery and will see my bone & joint Dr tomorrow to see when or if I

can go back to work. I know how frustrating it is to deal with

Social Security and Insurance companies here when they do not

understand what PA can do. All they hear is Arthritis and think that

everyone over 50 has it so, how bad can it be? There are some days

when everything I do feels like I am climbing a mountain. I have to

force every movement because of the pain. I wish that those who make

the decisions about disability had a better understanding of PA and

related illnesses. My insurance company required a functional

capacity test to determine disability. It was a real hoot. It

lasted for less than two hours to determine if I could stand and work

all day. Most of the time I was sitting while the examiner,(not a

Dr.)wrote his findings. After the test I was mailed a copy and

almost all of the findings were opinions, not based on facts. I have

had to hire a lawyer to help me attain what my x-rays, MRIs and my

Doctor say I am intitled to. I hope your process is easier.

Best of luck and know that there are others out here fighting the

same battles.